Locking device



A. HOUSTON AND H. P. STEPHENSON.

LOCKING DEVICE.

APRLICAUON FILED JULYZB, 1920.

Patented J ime 6, 1922.

III

AUBREY HOUSTON, or onersrcnuncn, iu naemwmiiam STEP-m son, *orAsnnun'ron, Newznani'ilvh.v y 1 LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed July 28,

' lowing to be a full, clean-and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to locking devices of the keyless or combinationtype, and is adaptable for various purposes. I

The object of the invention is to provide a lock that can be readilyoperated by a person knowing the correct combination and that will beeffective against operation by unauthorized persons, and in which thecom: bination is automatically thrown out of reg-- ister by'either thelooking or unlocking of the device. g According to our invention, discsor similar circular members are mounted upon a spindle and arrangedoneabove the other thereon or upon separate spindles. disc is providedwith a slot or groove into which slot or groove pins from a lever whichis pivoted in a suitable positionare adapted to enter. The slots are.arcuate or approximately arcuate for the radial movement of the leverfor a part of their distance and are then shapedso that the discs mayvwholly or partially revolve independentlyof any move ment of the lever.Upon one or both of the discs is fixed a pinion adapted to mesh withtoothedsections upon the lever. The pinion or pinions has or have teethat the required intervals with. which the. toothed sections mesh in sucha manner that after thepins have entered the slots the discs will becaused; to revolve and upon the opposite movement of the lever after thepins have left the sl ots, the discs will be caused to rotatelby meansof a toothed section or sections engaging in a toothed section of thepinion or pinions upon a disc or discs, the arrangement being such thatthe pins are thrown out of register with the slots and upon any furtherrotation of the discs the pins ride upon the periphery thereof.

The mechanism is suitably housed andthc spindles provided with dials,-the circumferences of which are divided into a number of divisions,preferably'as a clock face, and as each. dial is fixed by the medium ofthe spin;

j device in the veh cles.

Each

1920. se ia 110.3%,12

Specificationof L'ettersf'at'ent. Patll t'd'tlll he 6; v

dle or sleeve to a disc, it follows that each dialjmust be in a,pie-determined position before the slots register with the pins upon thelever. The dials, however, are adjustable to different positions upontheir respec tive spindles or sleeves, thus permitting all Y the pointsof thedials being changed in relation to each other and to the point ofregistering of the slots and, pins and en+ abling a multiplicity. ofcombinations of the dials being made. The leveramay be operated by anysuitable means, such asa knob or .button extending through the housing Iand the lever may be provided with contacts for closing an electric crcuit or maybe; ex-

tended to for mva locking bolt in any'convenient manneiu I 0nthedrawings g Figure 1, is an elevation. 5 i Figure 2, afsectionalelevation oi the Figure 3, Figure2; v s i Figure 4, is a sectionalelevation, showing the parts in a diflerent'position; w

Figure 5, and

Figure 6, areviews showing thel'discs in different operated positlons.

Figure 7, is an, elevationofa modified form of device. I v Figure 8, isa cross-section on line 8-.8, Figurei. i

Figure 9, is a view'of a detail. I

Referring to the drawings, and more par: ticularlv'to Figures 1 to6inclusive,,discs 1 is a crossisection on line- 3%3,

form of a 'switchlbox for motor g and 2, (if which the disc 1 is fixedtoa spindie ,3 and the disc 2 is fined to a sleeve 4:

freely mounted on the spindle 3, so that they rotate vindependently ofeach; other. The

disc-1 has a slot '5 and the disc? a slot 6, or the discs may begroovedas in Figure 9 so-as' not to unduly weaken them. Pins? andproject from a lever .9 which is pivotedin the framing by a spindle 10and are adapted to enter the, slots 5 and 6respectively; These slotshave a'radius from the axial.pointof g the lever 9 for a part of theirdistance, and.

are then shaped as shown in order that "thediscs may rotatea limitedextent independently of the movementof-the lever." Fixed to the spindle3 is a. pinion 11 adaptedttorotate with thedisc 1, the teeth of whichare cut-away at 12 and 13. The teeth of the pinion are adapted to meshwith and with teeth 1. upon a quadrant portion of the lever 9. An arm 18projects from the lever 9 and is adapted to engage with pins t9 near thecircumterential periphery of the disc 2. This arm 18 engages the pins l9after the pin 8 has entered the slot 6 and rotates the disc 2, the slotbeing shaped as shown in Fig), ure 6 to admit of the rotation of thedisc 2 during the inward movement of the arm. Another arm 20, alsoprojecting from the lever 9, engages a pin 21 upon the disc 2 and.rotates the said disc when the lever is clear of the slots. The spindle3 is pivoted in walls 22 and 223 spaced apart by and sup ported onpillars24 indicated in Figure 3. Pawls 25 and 26 pivoted on pins 27 tothe walls 22 and 23 respectively, engage in the serrated peripheries oi.wheels 28 and 29 fixed respectively to the discs 1 and 2. The pawls areretained against the serrations by means of springs 30 and 31 securedupon one of the pillars 2 as shown in Figures 2 and '3. This gives thenecessary braking action or tension upon the discs. I s A dial '32 isfixed upon the sleeve 4; by means of a set screw while another dial 234-is fixed upon the spindle 8" bya screw 35. The dial has an operatingknob or pin 86 and the dial 3 1; an operating knob 37. The dial 32 hasmarked upon its outer circumferential edge a number ofdivisions-preferably corresponding to the divisions upon a clock face,with similar markings upon. the inner circumferential edge, as indicatedin Figure 1, while the dial 34 has a pointer 38 fixed to or marked uponthe dial.

In the figures the device is shown in the form of a switch box for motorvehicles and for locking the switch thereof in its cut off position, andfor this purpose the lever 9 is provided with contacts 4-0 and 41 tomake Contact with terminals and 43 respectively, the lever 9 beingcontrolled by a button 44 which fits on to the spindle ill or to anyother convenient portion of the lever 9. The terminals pass through aninsulated piece 45 to which the wall 22 issecured.

A suitable 4:6 encloses the mecha nism and may be bolted or locked inposition i on the car in order to prevent it being readily removedorinterfered with.

The operation of. the device will now be described.

' The dials are previously adjusted to a pre determined combination bymeans of the set screws 33Vand 3 F or example, the dial 32 is set thatthe i2 is opposite the mark 418 on the casing l-6 and so that the slot 6will be in a position as shown in Figures 2 and 6 for the pin 8 toenter. The dial 34 is then set, for example, so that the pointer 38 isopposite to the f3 on the dial 32, the slot 5 beingth'en in position forthe pin 7 to ente'r. The operator then, for convenience, canremember thecombination as twelve oclock and three ocloc'ln Any of the divisionsbetween these numbers may be-selected, such as minutes or half minutes.

in Figure 2, the lever 9 is shown in position corresponding to theposition in which the dials are set in Figure l, whereby the pins 7 and8 may enter the slots 5 and Upon thelever being operated in thedirection of the arrow the pin 7 will travel along the slot 5 and thepin 8 along the slot 5 until the teeth 17 engage the teeth of the pinion11 when the pinion and-tho disc ii w llbe rotated until the leverassumes the position shown in Figure 4., and contact is made he twe nthe contacts and terminals. if itftliis point a tooth upon the pinion l1 will engage against the shoulder of the levci and prevent any furtherrotation. The disc 2 will at the same time have been rotated by the arm18 engaging}; with the pins 19, thus both the discs are rotated therebychanging their positions and the position otthe dials in order that therequired ,combinationwill not sh w when the switch is on. c

in the position of Figure 4., the contacts lll and 4:]. are in contactwith the terminals 42 and l3 and when it is desired to switch oil thecurrent the lever is moved in the di! rection of the arrow in Figures 4and 5, the teeth 17 rotating; the disc '1. and/thenrm 18 rotating; thedisc 2 in order to, permit the lever to return to the position shown inFigures 2 and 6. The discs are then free to rotate and by moving thelever to its 'full extent in the directionof the arrow shown in Figures4iand 5, the teeth 17 of the quad-v rant will engage with the teeth ofthe pin ion ll. and rotate the disc 1. and when the position in Figure 5is reached a tooth 51. adjacent to thetooth 16 will carry the teeth 17clear oi the teeth of the pin on so that the inter 9 maybe returned tothe positions in Figures and 6 without engaging the teeth of the pinion.The arm 20 will engage with the pin 21 on the disc 2 also rotatingthatdisc until the position shown in Figure-.5 is reached. Thus the discswill have. been moved so as to prevent the pins land, '8 again enteringthe slots 5 and 6 until the discs are rotated to their correctpositions, and also rotating the dials so that the correct combinationdoes not, appearf By moving the lever 9 back until the pins 7' and. 8rest upon the periphery of the discs and the button 441- indicates thelocked position. the pins will ride upon the circumferential peripheryof the discs while the discs then selves are tree to rotate andthe'levercan only be moved to the on position when the discs'ale brought toregister-with the pins 7 and 8. e i In Figure 7, is shown a modifiedform of the device; In this case discs 54 and5 5 corresponding to thediscs land 2'are pivoted upon pins 56, each disc being connected ,to adial 5?; The discs 54 and 55 are-provided with teeth 58 into which teeth59, correspondmg with the teeth 1?. are adapted to gear and rotate thediscs. These teeth 59 the same function asthe lever 9 such lever 62being pivoted on the pin 6]. which is fixed in an insulated base 66. Theends of the lever have pins 63 and 64L adaptedto enter the slots in thediscs. The wheel also has teeth 65 which correspond and operate in thesame way and for the same purpose as the teeth 17 and the arms 18 and20. Tnstead of engaging with teeth they may simply onwith pins as shownin Figures 5 and 6, and in the same way. instead of, using pins as shownin .these figures, teeth may be used. The discs 54 and 55 may be ofinsulating material while the pins 56 are connected to electricalterminals connect-ion being made between the terminals by the lever 62contacting with the pins. The lever may be operated in the same manneras the lever 9. The operation of this will be clear from the operationof the device shown in the previous figures.

If employed as a lock the end of the lever or any convenient part of thelevers 9 and 62 can simply be extended to form a locking bolt either asbolt itself or to operate a locking bolt of a lock.

It is obvious that more than two discs, operating mechanism and dialsfor each disc may be employed. thereby still further increasing thesafety device.

To preventthe mechanism being strained by futile attempts to move thelever when in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6,

a locking device is preferably provided con sisting of a catch 68 fixedon a spring member 69 fixed to a convenient part of the framing. FigureQshowing it fixed to the wall 22 and Figure 8 showing it fixed to thewall 70. A press button 71 is connected to one end of the-springmemberfor operating the catch. lVhen the lever 9 is in the position shown inFigure 2 or the lever 62 in the position shown in Figure 7. such leverswill engage against the catch and prevent the movement of the lever andthe pins entering the slots until such time as the press button 71 hasbeen operated.

The dials may. if desired, be enclosed beneath glass and may beoperatedby means of a milled knob adapted to operate the dials throughthe medium of suitable toothed wheels.

The dials may be made luminous :in order to be easily adjusted by night.

What we claim and desire to secure by.

Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a device of the kinddescribed, a

frame, discs rotatably mounted on said forth.

and efliciency of the frame, slots or grooves in said discs, pinsadapted to enter sa d slots or grooves, a

lever pivoted in saidframe from which lever.

said pins project, 'n'ieans whereby upon oper} ating said lever ineither direction thedi'scs are caused to. rotate, meanswherebywhen" thelever is moved. clear of the discs said discs will b'e'rotated and thepins prevented from entering the slots, dials attached to each ofsaiddiscs, said dials having marks or divisions to coincide withcorresponding.

positions of the slots, and a member against which said lever engages inorder to pre-' vent said lever being operated and to pre I vent the saidpins entering said slots. until said member has been operated to dsengage substantially as set said lever therefrom,

2. In a frame, discs rotatably mounted. on said frame, slotsor'groovesin. said discs, pins adapted to enter said slots or grooves, a leverpivoted in said frame from which lever said pins project, means wherebyupon operating said lever in either direction the discs are caused torotate, means whereby when the lever is moved clear of the discs saiddiscs will be rotated and thepins prevented from entering the slots,dials attached to each of said discs, said dials having marks ordivisions to coincide with corresponding positions ofthe slots,substantially as set forth.

3. In a device of the kind described, a frame, circular membersrotatably mounted in said frame and having arcua-te slots or groovestherein, a pivoted member, pins on said pivoted member adapted to enterand travel along the slots, means whereby when said lever is operated ineither direction the,

circular members are caused to rotate, the slots being shapedv to permitof such'rotatlon, meansupon said plvoted member to with a fixed orore-determined point. theslots will registerwith said pins, and meansfor operating said dials, substantially as set forth.

-rotate said discs, means to prevent said pins L. In. a device of thekind described, a

frame, discs rotatably mounted in said frame and having arcuate slots orgrooves therein,

a pivoted lever, pins projecting from said lever adapted to enter theslots or grooves,

pinions upon said discs, teeth upon "said lever adapted to gear with theteeth of said pinions, the teeth of the pinions and the teeth of thesaid lever being so arranged that when the lever is operated the pinsenter the slotsjin said discs and the discs are caused to rotate andupon movement of the lever afterthe pins have left the slots the &1,418,571

to the said discs and marked with divisions vherehy they may be adjustedto a pre-determined position to coincide With the position of the slotswhen they register With the pins, substantially as set forth.

In a device of the lIiIlCl CltiSCl'lbGd, an

arcuate slotted disc, a spindle upon which said disc is fixed, a secondarcuate slotted disc mounted freely on said spindle, a toothed pinionfixed on said spindle, a pivoted lever, pins projecting from the ends ofsaid lever adapted to enter the slots, sections of teeth in a quadrantportion of said lever, one section of said teeth being adapted to engagesaid pinion and rotate the pinion and the disc after said pinshaveentered the slots, another section of teeth upon said lever adapted torotate said pinion and disc after, sald pins have left the slots, meansupon said lever to rotate said second disc after the pins have enteredthe slot and to rot-ate said disc after the said pin has left the slot,tension means for said discs, a dial fixed to said second disc, anotherdial fixed to the spindle, said dials having circumferential divisions,and means for adjusting the dials so that one set of divisions may beset to coincide With the position that the slots register With the pins,substantially as set forth. I

In testimony whereof We have signed our-

